$429 Dimmer Switch

In article ,
(JDupre5762) wrote:

It always amazes me how often things were designed without any thought to
future maintenance requirements.

I suspect your typical 30-40 year old piston single was designed mostly
to meet a sales price point. I also supect if you told the guys in the
factory who built the 1968 Arrow I fly that this plane would still by
flying 35 years later, they would have thought you were nuts.

"Roy Smith" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(JDupre5762) wrote:

It always amazes me how often things were designed without any thought
to
future maintenance requirements.

I suspect your typical 30-40 year old piston single was designed mostly
to meet a sales price point. I also supect if you told the guys in the
factory who built the 1968 Arrow I fly that this plane would still by
flying 35 years later, they would have thought you were nuts.

Most things are made for and sold at a price point otherwise there would be
no such thing as different models.

The kettle I bought yesterday for $19.99 was made for a pricepoint as was
the $9.99 kettle.

The same for aeroplanes

I don't have an opinion. I just want to learn. Come back and cast some
more pearls ....

Meanwhile, I did find out a couple more semi-official FAA opinions:

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/news/arch...2002/Parts.htm

http://150cessna.tripod.com/obrienonownermadeparts.html

Again, the gist seems to be that owner made parts have to be based on
approved data of some kind. The owner can't just roll his own, no matter
how much better it is, without a field approval.

"Jim Weir" wrote in message
...
Ya know, this has all been great fun, but a huge time sink. I'll take the
thread up again next weekend, but I won't waste valuable engineering time
with
folks who have an honest difference of opinion. Opinion, mine as well as
yours,
are like assholes...everybody has one and most of them stink.

See ya after hours...

Jim
Jim Weir (A&P/IA, CFI, & other good alphabet soup)
VP Eng RST Pres. Cyberchapter EAA Tech. Counselor
http://www.rst-engr.com

(JDupre5762) wrote in
:

Not to mention prohibition against soldering (unless absolutely
unavoidable) that most A&Ps have been taught.


I was never prohibited from soldering and spent hours doing it.
Granted this was 20 years ago.

There is still no prohibition against it. I went through the
"maintenance procedures" manual last night, and soldering certainly gets
short shift... but nothing prohibits it. Reading more recent articles,
soldering appears about as common as crimping (not saying it is done as
often, but rather that the two are simply considered both standard
methods for making electrical connections).

Crimping is still favored because, with the right tool, almost any moron
can do a good crimp. Soldering is like crimping without an automatic
tool - can be done just fine, but requires someone who knows what they
are doing. [But isn't that what we wish regardless?]

The key is good quality workmanship on the connection, with adequate
strain relief and anti-vibration bundling as necessary. Done right, ANY
good connection should last a lifetime.

-----------------------------------------------
James M. Knox
TriSoft ph 512-385-0316
1109-A Shady Lane fax 512-366-4331
Austin, Tx 78721
-----------------------------------------------

Again, the gist seems to be that owner made parts have to be based on
approved data of some kind. The owner can't just roll his own, no matter
how much better it is, without a field approval.


Yup...there is the key. And by regs, the installing mechanic is responsible
for assuring this to be so.

And Jim, I'll be back this weekend when I have more time.....with my "smelly"
opinion